forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
WW1 Aircraft Modeling => Completed models => Topic started by: lone modeller on September 10, 2021, 04:34:38 AM
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Evening All,
Serious aviation modellers know that the only real aircraft are pushers so when I came across the Oertz W6 Flugschoner (Flying Schoner), courtesy Marklo in a GB on Britmodeller I had to thank him for the introduction. The Oertz W6 was a double biplane with two pusher engines, so it must rank as a very real aeroplane indeed! The only problem with Mark's model was that it was in the wrong scale (1/48), so someone had to correct the error and as nobody else came forward I thought that I would have a try for a recent Flying Boats GB on another site. This model is in God's Own Scale and has a wingspan of approximately 12 inches (30 cm). This is a real steampunkt type of aeroplane and I was therefore immediately attracted by it.
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Dr.Ing. Max Oertz studied nautical design at the Royal Institute of Technology, Charlottenburg, Berlin and worked in Helsinki and St Petersburg before returning to Germany in 1895. He built the first yacht in aluminium for a banker and founded a company to build more yachts, including one for the Kaiser. Oertz was interested in aviation and designed a gondola which could be lowered from Zeppelins and allow the Zeppelin to remain unseen above the clouds while the observer could be beneath the clouds and have a good all round view.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51440405963_cf2eb6a32d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mnBwx6)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51440077198_d995c6abf5_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mnzQNJ)
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In 1909 he built his first aeroplane, and in 1911 a second one. He then combined his skill in designing yachts with his interest in aircraft to start building flying boats. Two machines were built before 1914 and more were built for the German Navy during the war. In 1917 he sold his aviation interests to Hansa-Brandenburg: post war he continued designing ships and other marine craft. He died in 1927.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51439404237_97e14780ed_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mnwoKX)
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Oertz submitted a number of flying boat designs to the German Navy in 1914, of which the W6 was one. It was known as the Flugschoner, (Flying Schooner), and was ordered in August 1914. It was distinguished by its tandem biplane wing design which was chosen to provide a large wing area within a reasonable span to increase the range. It had a crew of three and was powered by 2 x 260 hp Maybach Mb. IV engines mounted in the hull driving pusher propellors via shafts with bevel gears.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51439076032_430e85e703_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mnuHcf)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51439824186_9f5739f860_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mnyxAs)
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Although construction was completed in the summer of 1916 delays in the supply of the engines meant that the machine was not sent to the navy until July 1917. When it was delivered for trials it did not have wing tip floats, and ailerons on the upper front wings only. Trials showed that floats were advisable in the choppy waters of the North Sea and that the aileron control was inadequate, so a second pair were mounted between the rear wings. The hull had a very broad beam which made the craft stable in the water, and the tail surfaces were mounted on booms high above the hull. The aircraft took off and landed well but overall performance was sluggish, even though the range was greater than had been calculated. It was not considered worth while proceeding with the design as it would have proved vulnerable to fighter attack and so the machine was dismantled after the tests had been completed.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51439075672_b0de9c6a5b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mnuH63)[
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51439823861_77780fff6a_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mnyxuR)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51439824026_d0cc5a7c50_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2mnyxxG)
Sadly there is no kit of this aircraft so I had to cobble it together from wood, plastic sheet, strip and rod, and brass rod. It is rigged with rolled copper wire and the markings are from Arctic Decals. There is a build log in the scratch builds section of this site.
Thanks for looking.
Stephen.
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Very different and very nice !
Ed
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Crazy looking thing. The honorary Dr Oertz must have been a very interesting man. I have a feeling he had fun at work.
Congrats on a beautiful model of a real oddball of a plane.
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Haha, I completely agree with the above. A brilliant model of a crazy but strangely appealing flying boat.
I feel privileged to have see this under construction. I very much hope to see it in the flesh in the near future.
Richie
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Excellent model
and a subject that you do not see often around, so it is a showstopper and a delightful masterpiece.
er me
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You always surprise us with your models, Stephen. But this time you have outdone yourself. What an oddity!!!! Congratulations and thank you for sharing this.
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This plane alone is evidence enough that LSD was in use long before the 1970ies…
A perfect scratch build like always, Stephen!
Andreas
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Stephen -
Most of your aircraft are different, but this one really is unusual!
Now I see it completed it actually was not a bad looking areoplane. You really have done yourself proud and excelled yourself with this latest build. Absolute sterling workmanship all round and very nicely presented on your aircraft's trolley and display base.
Looking forward to your next (unique) project
Regards
Dave
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Yet another spectacular build of a Highly Unusual subject! Loved watching your processes Stephen. Excellent results!!
RAGIII
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Congrats Stephen. Nice model of a fascinating subject. I can't help thinking the plan was to jettison the rear set of wings after take off, like the Disco Volante boat in the James Bond Thunderball film!
Almost makes the UWD look sensible!
Sandy
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What a lovely complex interesting and amazing build! Well done! I really enjoyed your build log too, Stephen! Regards, Marc.
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Evening All,
Many thanks for the very kind comments. Yes it is most unusual which is why it appealed to me so much. I am not sure that I will be able to find anything quite so odd for a long time to come - but I will keep on looking!!
Stephen.
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Wonder how many water skiers it could pull?
Great work, Stephen. We can count on you to bring us the weird ones.
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So glad I got to see this. Wonderfully archaic and a fascinating story too. It must have been quite a sight when it was in the air.
Congratulations on such a fine result too. A great addition to your pusher collection. :)
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Another unusual beauty from your bench Stephen. I must admit, I would far rather model it than try to fly it, it looks extremely unstable!
Ian
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My thoughts exactly, it could probably water your eyes with a "Bat Turn" in record time ......... once!
Beautiful modelling Stephen as always. A "pusher" in God's Own Scale, obscure and bizarre design, and complex construction beyond all logic ....... another winner from your work bench! Well done and I'm looking forward to your next project.
Cheers,
Lance
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I my goodness, Stephen! That is just amazing. I absolutely love your work. Well done!
Can't wait to see what's next.
Dan
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Evening All,
Many thanks Ken, Will, Ian Lance and Dan for your very kind and supportive comments - I really appreciate them.
Yes Ken I do like the odd, unusual, little known, (unknown?), and downright curious. It makes scratch building all the more interesting.
I do have another oddity lined up for which I am still in the process of making drawings. It was an historically important machine but I knew nothing about it until relatively recently. More later when I open a new build log, but I promise that it will be in God's Own Scale.
Stephen.
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Stephen, I looked again and again into this gallery and I was out of words ...
This is so damn great in all aspects of modeling! I like to second all what Lance said :)
It invited me to look into the type book and yes, I found it! What about the Oertz W 4 or W 8 as another project one day?
Cheers,
Frank
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Thank you Frank: like the others you are too kind.
I have looked at the Oertz W4 and W8 too and they are both very elegant flying machines. To stop you twisting my arm, (it hurts!), I have added both to my list - but I will only build one of them at some time in the future.
Stephen.
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Stephen sweetie ,
Another lovely build leaves your bench of such a cool and far out design . With four main wings this must have been one hell of a beast to fly .
Your skills are improving Stephen and this is a reflection on your true self !
Alexis
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Absolutely stunning work, Stephen. And such a unique subject. Very impressive indeed.
Cheers,
Gary